Cardiac morphology refers to the study of the heart's structure and form. It involves examining the size, shape, and arrangement of the heart's chambers, valves, and major blood vessels. Imaging techniques, such as morphological cardiac MRI, play a crucial role in visualizing these structures.
Understanding Cardiac Morphology
Cardiac morphology is important for:
- Diagnosis: Identifying congenital heart defects, valve abnormalities, and other structural issues.
- Treatment Planning: Guiding surgical interventions and other therapies.
- Monitoring Disease Progression: Assessing changes in heart structure over time.
Morphological Cardiac MRI
Morphological cardiac MRI is a specific type of cardiac imaging focused on visualizing the anatomy of the heart. According to the provided reference, a primary goal of morphological cardiac MRI is to clearly delineate the heart chambers and vascular lumen. This is often achieved using a “dark blood” contrast technique (PRESTO / dark-blood / black-blood). Dark blood techniques suppress the signal from flowing blood, allowing for better visualization of the heart walls and other structures.
- Dark Blood Contrast: This technique allows for clearer images of the heart walls and structures by suppressing the signal from flowing blood. The reference mentions PRESTO / dark-blood / black-blood as examples of such techniques.
Key Aspects of Cardiac Morphology Assessment
Cardiac morphology assessment often includes evaluating:
- Chamber Size and Volume: Assessing if the heart chambers are enlarged or abnormally shaped.
- Valve Structure and Function: Examining the heart valves for stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage).
- Vascular Anatomy: Visualizing the major blood vessels connected to the heart, such as the aorta and pulmonary artery.
- Presence of Masses or Tumors: Identifying any abnormal growths within the heart.
- Congenital Heart Defects: Diagnosing structural abnormalities present at birth.
